Method for managing menu function in mobile station

ABSTRACT

The method for managing menu functions in a mobile station includes the steps of executing menu edition, selecting menu items the user uses frequently in the executed menu edition, to set up a menu, executing the menu, and displaying the menu of the selected menu items at first. The basic menu inclusive of all menu items the mobile station provides is selected as a last menu item of the mode menu displayed at first so that the user can access to menu items other than the menu items of preference. By providing easy mode menu with menu items the user or manufacturer of the mobile station uses frequently in advance, and displaying on a display window at first, the user is permitted a quick and easy access to a desired menu item without going through many steps of menus for using the desired menu item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for managing menu functions ina mobile station.

2. Background of the Related Art

The recent remarkable developments in the fields of information andcommunication have changing the information and communicationenvironments rapidly. Particularly, it is recent trend that a number ofusers of the portable mobile stations keep increasing day by day, andkeeping pace with this, a demand for the mobile station also isincreasing. On the other hand, for providing convenience to the users,there are new functions added to the mobile station, and there have beenceaseless researches for the new functions. The mobile station isprovided with the telephone function without question, and messagetransmission/reception functions, data storage function, functions forreceiving various teletext services, such as weather, and securityinformation, and the like. And, recently the mobile station is providedwith even the Internet function.

In the meantime, a menu function for managing the various functions ofthe mobile station are operative in a form of “hierarchical optimummenu”. The hierarchical optimum menu, menus produced at the time ofproduction of the mobile station and stored in the mobile station,denotes a hierarchical architecture of the menus. That is, if it isintended to use one menu, it is required to go through a few steps. Thehierarchical optimum menu has a pop-up form of hierarchicalarchitecture, In detail, one main menu has its submenus, and each of thesubmenus has its submenus, to require step by step approach to access toone of the submenus. As explained keeping pace with the provision of thevarious function to the mobile station, a system program for operatingthe mobile station also becomes complicated as much. And, as anarchitecture of a menu for managing such numerous additional functionsof the mobile station also becomes complicated, the users are alsorequired to be familiar with the architecture of the numerous additionalfunctions as well as methods for using the menu functions which managesthe menus.

A related art method for managing the menu functions will be explained,with reference to FIG. 1. It is assumed that the user intended to use acalculation function in the mobile station.

Referring to FIG. 1, at first, The user presses a menu button on a keypanel in the mobile station, when a display window(in general, a liquidcrystal display) of the mobile station displays basic menu itemsprovided basically by the mobile station, for an example, such as 1.Volume control 101, 2. Telephone bell selection 102, 3. Scheduling 102,4. Scheduled operation/alarm(not shown), 5. Password 104, 6. Convenientfunctions 105, 7. Locking 106, and the like.

However, when the menu button is pressed on the key panel, there is alimitation of a number of menu items displayable on the display windowowing to a limited area of the display window of the mobile station. Ingeneral, two or three menu items can be displayed on the display window.Therefore, upon pressing the menu button, if a desired item is notdisplayed on the display window, the user operates cursor moving buttonson the key panel, to move the cursor to the desired menu item, such as“6. Convenient functions 105”. As explained, upon moving down thecursor, the menu item “6. Convenient functions 105 is displayed on thedisplay window, and upon selection of the menu item 6., submenus of themenu item are displayed on the display window. For an example, it isassumed that the submenus of the menu item 6 has 1. Automatic area code107, 2. Power saving 108, 3. Automatic reception 109, and 4. Calculator110. If there is no “4. Calculator 110” item in the submenu itemsdisplayed on the display window at first as explained, the user operatesthe cursor moving buttons on the key panel, to move the cursor to thenext submenu items. When the user selects the “4. Calculator 110” item,the calculator function is retrieved, to permit the user to use thecalculator function of the mobile station.

In the meantime, if the user remembers respective submenu numbersdisplayed on the display window when the user presses the menu button,it is not required to press the operation of key panel buttons until theintended submenu items are displayed. However, it is difficult for theuser to remember all numerous main menu items and the submenu items ofrespective main menu items, actually. Even if the user searches the mainmenu items and the submenu items displayed on the display window for thedesired submenu item, without remembering the submenu items, there isstill a problem in that the user is required to know the desiredfunction falls on which submenu item. Therefore, the user is required torepeat a process in which the search proceeds to upper menu items, andthen proceeds to lower menu items of the upper menu item, for a fewtimes. In other words, if the user does not know that the 4. Calculator108 function is in the item of 6. Convenient functions 105 in advance,the user can not but waste much time in search for a submenu item forthe calculator. That is, in order to reach to a desired submenu item,many times of operation on the key panel buttons is required, and manytoggles should be attempted. For example, in order to reach to a seventhsubmenu item “screen luminance adjustment” under a fifth main menu item“mobile station managing”, the user is required to press the key panelbuttons more than ten times in total. That is, in order to reach to thefifth main menu item, a four time of button pressing is required, andthen, in order to reach to the seventh submenu items, a six times ofbutton pressing is required, again.

As explained, the hierarchical optimum menu architecture becomes verycomplicate as many new functions are developed, and many menu items areproduced for managing the new functions, to require for the user towaste much time because it is required to go through many steps to reachto the desired menu item. Moreover, the hierarchical optimum menuarchitecture has many items which are not used by the user depending onthe user, that causes the problem that too many steps are required toreach to some of actually desired menu items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for managingmenu functions in a mobile station that substantially obviates one ormore of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the relatedart.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for managingmenu functions in a mobile station, which permits an easy access to auser desired menu item,

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the methodfor managing menu functions in a mobile station, include the steps ofselecting only menu items of preference from basic menu items stored ina mobile station in advance. An easy(EZ) mode menu of the selected itemsis set up in advance. The menu items of the easy mode menu are displayedon the display window of the mobile station at first in using menufunctions of the mobile station. The user selects a desired menu itemfrom the displayed EZ mode menu items.

The EZ mode menu of menu items of preference may be fabricated by themanufacturer at a stage of development of the mobile station, togetherwith a basic menu.

The EZ mode menu of menu items of preference may be fabricated by theuser after fabrication of the mobile station in a process of menuedition.

The user may selects menu items the user uses frequently as the items ofthe EZ mode menu in the process of menu edition.

Or, the user may selects the EZ mode menu of menu items of preferencefrom statistics of menu items recently used frequently by the mobilestation in the process of menu edition.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodfor managing menu functions in a mobile station, including the steps of(1) selecting only menu items of preference from basic menu items of amobile station, to fabricate an easy(EZ) mode menu, and (2) displayingmenu items of the easy made menu on the display window of the mobilestation at first in using menu functions of the mobile station.

The basic menu inclusive of all menu items the mobile station providesis selected as a last menu item of the mode menu displayed at first sothat the user can access to menu items other than the menu items ofpreference.

By providing easy mode menu with menu items the user or manufacturer ofthe mobile station uses frequently in advance, and displaying on adisplay window at first, the user is permitted a quick and easy accessto a desired menu item without going through many steps of menus forusing the desired menu item.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram showing a related art method for managingmenu functions in a mobile station;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram showing a system of a mobile stationfor explaining a method of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method formanaging menu functions in a mobile station in accordance with a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method formanaging menu functions in a mobile station in accordance with a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram showing a process for selecting a desiredmenu item from basic menu items in a mobile station by user inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A illustrates a diagram showing menu items selected as EZ menu ona display window of a mobile station in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B illustrates a diagram showing a process for executing a menuitem functions selected by the user from EZ menu items; and, FIG. 6illustrates EZ menu items displayed in forms of icons on a displaywindow in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

A method for managing menu functions in a mobile station of the presentinvention includes the steps of selecting desired menu items only frombasic menu items of a mobile station to fabricate an easy made menu,and, in carrying out menu functions of the mobile station, displayingthe menu items of the easy mode menu at first on the display window ofthe mobile station.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram showing a system of a mobile stationfor explaining a method of the present invention, and FIG. 3Aillustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for managing menufunctions in a mobile station in accordance with a first preferredembodiment of the present invention.

The method for managing menu functions in a mobile station in accordancewith a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will beexplained, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile station includes a key panel 10 having aplurality of buttons for generating a key signal by a user, amicroprocessor 20 for controlling entire system of the mobile station inresponse to the key signal from the key panel 10, a memory 30 forstoring, and providing system programs and required information underthe control of the microprocessor 20, and a display(in general, liquidcrystal display) 40 for displaying information read by fiemicroprocessor 20. First the step of selecting desired menu terms onlyfrom basic menu items of a mobile station to fabricate an easy modemenu, which is a main characteristic of the present invention will beexplained. There are two methods in selecting user desired menu items.

In the first method, the easy(or EZ) mode menu having the menu items ofthe user's preference is fabricated by a user's edition of the menuafter fabrication of the mobile station. The user may selects the menuitems the user uses frequently as the EZ mode menu items in a process ofthe menu edition, or the user may selects the menu items with referenceto statistics of menu items used recently for many times in the mobilestation as the EZ mode menu items in a process of the menu edition. Thatis, when the user intends to fabricate the EZ menu of the mobilestation, the user presses a menu button on the key panel 10 for anelongated time in a range of 2˜3 seconds, to display main menu items ofbasic menu stored already in the mobile station on a display window ofthe display. Then, when the user selects any one of main menu items inthe basic menus by moving cursor by using a cursor moving button on akey panel 10, submenu items for the selected main menu item is displayedon the display window. In this instance, there are a check box fordetermining selection of the submenu at a side of each of the submenus.When the user puts a check mark in the check box by operating thebuttons, the submenu item is selected as an EZ menu item. All the menuitems can be checked, inclusive of menu items with or without submenus.For an example, a submenu item for a function(for an example,“calculator” item), or a main menu item(for an example, “convenientfunction” item) containing the submenu item(“calculator” item) maybeselected as a menu item of the EZ menu. After selecting a desired menuitem(or items) from the submenu items of one main menu item, the useroperates the buttons of the key panel 10, either for returning to themain menu level for selecting another menu item, or finishing the menuediting process for selecting the EZ menu items.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram showing a process for selecting a desiredmenu item from basic menu items in a mobile station by a user inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 5A illustrates a diagram showing menu items selected as EZ menu ona display window of a mobile station in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention, referring to which the firstselecting process will be explained in more detail.

If the user intends to selects “calculator” menu item, the menu editingprocess is started with pressing the menu button for an elongated timeof 2˜3 seconds. In this instance, 1. Volume control 301, 2. Telephonebell selection 302, 3. Scheduling 303 are displayed on the displaywindow, with a check box 300 at a side of each of the main menu itemsfor determining selection of the main menu items. In this instance,since the main menu item of 6. Convenient functions 304 containing thesubmenu item of “Calculator” is not displayed on the display window, theuser operates the buttons, to move the cursor to the sixth main menuitem of the “6. Convenient functions 304”. Then, when the user operatesthe buttons to select the “6. Convenient functions 304”, submenu itemsof the sixth main menu item are displayed on the display window. Thedisplay window can display three main menu items, or two submenu items,at a time. Therefore, at first the “4. Calculator 305”, the fourthsubmenu item is not displayed on the display window in FIG. 4.Accordingly, the user is required to operate the buttons to move thecursor to the desired submenu item, “4. Calculator”. Then, the user putsthe check mark in to check box 300 at the side of the item “4.Calculator 305” by using the buttons, for selecting the “4. Calculator”305 item. If it is intended to select another menu the user may returnto the main menu, the upper menu, by using the buttons. By repeating thesame process, all desired menu items can be selected. Thereafter, whenthe menu is run(step 203), the selected items are displayed as the firstsubmenus(step 204), to facilitate an easy access to a desired menu item.

In the second method for selecting the menu items, the EZ mode menuhaving the menu items of preference may be fabricated by a manufacturerof the mobile station at a stage of development of the mobile station,together with the basic menu. As explained, the selection process of thepresent invention forms different trees of the basic menu and the EZmode menu given to the mobile station. In order to reach to the EZ modemenu trees, what is required is either mere pressing of a one touchbutton on the key panel 10, or by selection by using the bottons afterthe menu function is reached. That is, the EZ mode menu intends toreduce a number of user's button pressing times on the key panel 10 bymaking menu items not used frequently or usefully by the users of themobile station not to be displayed on the display window, while menuitems the users of the mobile station use frequently or usefully putaside.

Another example of the selection process will be explained. For anexample, it is assumed that the basic menu of the mobile station hasfour main menu items as explained below, and each of the main menu itemshas a plurality of submenu items.

Basic menu

1. Volume, and bell(maim menu items):

Conversion between bell/vibration, selection of bells, volume of thebell, call connection sound, service change sound, one minutecommunication sound, automatic communication volume(submenu items).

2. Electronic note functions(main menu item):

Recording telephone numbers, Scheduling, Schedule search, Past scheduleerasure, World time, Calculator, Communication list erasure, Erasure ofentire telephone numbers, Own telephone number confirmation(submenuitems).

3. Management of mobile station(main menu items):

Locking set up, Communication time period list, Password change, Areacode set up, Area code input, Background illumination, Supplementarytelephone numbers, Screen luminance adjustment(submenu items).

4. Data communication(main menu items):

MDR, Communication mode set up(submenu items).

The user may erase menu items for functions not used frequently from thebasic menu items, and select only menu items for functions usedfrequently and form a new EZ mode menu tree as described below. In acase the EZ mode menu is fabricated at a mobile station manufacturer,since the menu items used frequently may differ from user to user,functions may be added to the mobile station for erasing menu items fromthe EZ mode menu items, or adding new menu items to the EZ mode menuitems.

An example of the EZ menu selected and fabricated by the user will beshown below.

EZ mode menu

1. Volume, and bell(main menu items):

Conversion between bell/vibration, selection of bells, volume of thebell(submenu items).

2. Electronic note function(main menu items):

Recording telephone numbers, Scheduling, Schedule search(submenu items).

3. Management of mobile station(main menu items):

Locking set up, Communication time period list, Backgroundillumination(submenu items).

FIG. 3A illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method formanaging menu functions in a mobile station in accordance with a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B illustrates adiagram slowing display windows for explaining a process for managingmenu functions of a mobile station by using the EZ mode menu fabricatedin FIGS. 4 and 5A. The method for managing menu functions of a mobilestation in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5B and 3A. Asexplained, the present invention suggests to display menu items of easymode menus at first on a display window of a mobile station in using themenu function of the mobile station for the convenience of the users. Inthis instance, as shown in FIG. 5B, a last menu item of the EZ mode menuis set up to be a basic menu inclusive of all menu items provided by themobile station so that the user cam access to menu items other than themenu items of the EZ menus.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the microprocessor 20 in FIG. 2 checks the menubuttons on the key panel 10 of being pressed, to proceed to the EZ modemenu directly, if the menu buttons are pressed, when, as shown in FIG.5B, 1. Telephone bell volume 401, 2. Bell 402, 3. Total communicationtime period 403, 4. automatic area code 404, 5. Calculator 405, and 6.Basic menus, of the EZ menu items fabricated in the selection process,are displayed an the display window. When the user intends to selectsthe menu item of “Calculator”, the user may not find the item of 5.Calculator 405 from the menu items displayed at first owing to thelimitation of number of menu items the display window of the mobilestation can display at a time. In this instance, the user operates thebuttons to move the cursor to the next EZ menu items, for selecting themenu item of 5. Calculator 405. That is, the user can move the cursor toa desired menu item by toggling the buttons on the displayed menu items,or pressing buttons of corresponding number. Then a function of thedesired item is set by using a confirmation button among the buttons.Accordingly, since the menu items of the user's preference are displayedat first, different from the related art method, access to the desiredmenu item within a short time period is possible without going throughmany steps.

FIG. 3B illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method formanaging menu function in a mobile station in accordance with a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention. The method for managingmenu functions of a mobile station in accordance with a second preferredembodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 5B and 3B. As explained the present invention suggests to displaymenu items of easy mode menus at first on a display window of a mobilestation in using the menu function of the mobile station for theconvenience of the users. In this instance too, as shown in FIG. 5B, alast menu item of the EZ mode menu is set up to be a basic menuinclusive of all menu items provided by the mobile station so that theuser can access to menu items other than the menu items of the EZ menus.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the microprocessor 20 in FIG. 2 checks the menubuttons on the key panel 10 of being pressed, to displays main menuitems of the basic menu inclusive of the EZ mode menu on the displaywindow at first if the menu buttons are pressed, when the user mayoperate the buttons on the key panel 10 to select the EZ mode menu orother main menu items. Once the EZ mode menu or any one main menu itemis selected, the EZ menu items or submenu items of the selected mainmenu item are displayed on the display window. The user can move thecursor to a desired menu item by toggling the buttons on the displayedmenu items, or pressing buttons of corresponding number. Then, afunction of the desired item is set by using a confirmation button amongthe buttons. Accordingly, by setting the EZ mode menu as a first mainmenu item even in the basic menu, different from the related art method,access to the desired menu item within a short time period is possiblewithout going through many steps.

A method for managing menu functions in a mobile station in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention will be explained, withreference to FIG. 6. In this embodiment the menu items are displayed,not it character forms explained before, but in icon forms supportinggraphics. FIG. 6 illustrates EZ menu items displayed in forms of iconson a display window in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6, there are icons 501˜506 corresponding to respectivemenu items displayed on the display window, with a selected icon 502 inan inverted color. As explained, for selecting the icons, there arecursor moving buttons 507 for moving the cursor in an up, down, left orright direction, and a selection button 503 for executing the selectedicon by the user on the key panel of the mobile station. And, thedisplay window displays a menu editing icon 501 for selecting a menuediting process to fabricate the EZ menu, and an icon 506 for selectinga basic menu inclusive of menu items of all functions the mobile stationprovides, basically. When the user moves the cursor to the menu editingicon 501 by using the cursor moving button, and pressing the selectionbutton 508, the menu editing process is carried out. Then, as explained,when the user selects the basic menu icon the basic menu items ofcharacter forms are displayed on the display window identical to thecase of the foregoing embodiments. The process for selecting the EZ modemenu is cared out in a method identical to the menu editing process ofthe foregoing embodiments. When the user uses the menu functions, boththe basic menu items and the EZ mode menu items displayed on the displaywindow have the icon forms. Other than the above, the menu functions arecarried out through steps identical to the two embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates EZ menu items displayed in forms of icons on adisplay window, inclusive of, basically a menu editing icon 501 andbasic menu icon 506, and menu items of a melody selection 502, alarm503, locking 504, Calculator 505 and the like provided by the menuediting process in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention, with the melody selection icon 502 selected by the user. Inthis embodiment too, because the menu items the user uses frequently areselected as the EZ menu items and displayed on the display window in theicon forms at first, it is convenient for the user to access to adesired menu item. Since the “basic menu icon” 506 is displayed as alast menu item of the EZ mode menu when the icons of the EZ menu itemsare displayed on the display window, the user can access to menu itemsother than the EZ mode menu items with easy when desired.

As has been explained, the method for managing menu functions in amobile station of the present invention has the following advantage. AnEZ mode menu is provided with menu items the user or manufacturer of themobile station uses frequently in advance, and displayed on a displaywindow at first, thereby permitting the user a quick and easy access toa desired menu item without going through many steps of menus for usingthe desired menu item.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the method for managing menufunctions in a mobile station of the present invention without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that thepresent invention cover the modifications and variations of thisinvention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method for managing menu functions in a portabledevice, the method comprising: fabricating an easy mode menu responsiveto selection of menu items of preference from a basic menu list thebasic menu list representing various menu items; and displaying a basicmenu comprising a menu item which corresponds to the easy mode menu, andmenu items individually corresponding to a different function.
 17. Themethod according to claim 16, further comprising: providing auser-selectable region for each of the menu items of the basic menulist, each of the user-selectable regions permitting a user to selectthe menu items of preference from the basic menu list.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the user-selectable region for each ofthe menu items comprises a user-selectable check box.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein said check box is selectable via usermanipulation of a button.
 20. The method according to claim 18, whereinsaid check box is selectable via user manipulation of a keypad button.21. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: arranging eachof the menu items of the basic menu list in a numbered list; andenabling the selection of the menu items of preference via usermanipulation of a numbered key which corresponds to a number in thenumbered list.
 22. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a menuitem of the easy mode menu comprises a menu item which corresponds tothe basic menu.
 23. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein thefabricating of the easy mode menu is responsive to user-edits to anexisting menu.
 24. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein thefabricating of the easy mode menu is responsive to statistics offrequently used menu items.
 25. The method as claimed in claim 16,wherein menu items of the easy mode menu are displayed in icon form. 26.The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the basic menu listrepresents a hierarchical architecture of menu items.
 27. The method asclaimed in claim 16, wherein the basic menu list comprises at least onesub-level which each includes at least one menu item; said methodfurther comprising: fabricating the easy mode menu responsive toselection of the menu items of preference from the at least onesub-level.
 28. A portable device, comprising: an input componentpermitting user input; a display; and a processor for operatingresponsive to instructions to create an easy mode menu from a basic menulist, wherein the processor is configured to: fabricate an easy modemenu responsive to selection of menu items of preference from a basicmenu list, the basic menu list representing various menu items; anddisplay a basic menu comprising a menu item which corresponds to theeasy mode menu, and menu items individually corresponding to a differentfunction.
 29. The portable device according to claim 28, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: provide a user-selectable region foreach of the menu items of the basic menu list, each of theuser-selectable regions permitting a user to select the menu items ofpreference from the basic menu list.
 30. The portable device accordingto claim 29, wherein the user-selectable region for each of the menuitems comprises a user-selectable check box.
 31. The portable deviceaccording to claim 30, wherein said check box is selectable via usermanipulation of a button.
 32. The portable device according to claim 30,wherein said check box is selectable via user manipulation of a keypadbutton.
 33. The portable device according to claim 28, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: arrange each of the menu items ofthe basic menu list in a numbered list; and enable the selection of themenu items of preference via user manipulation of a numbered key whichcorresponds to a number in the numbered list.
 34. The portable device asclaimed in claim 28, wherein a menu item of the easy mode menu comprisesa menu item which corresponds to the basic menu.
 35. The portable deviceas claimed in claim 28, wherein the fabricating of the easy mode menu isresponsive to user-edits to an existing menu.
 36. The portable device asclaimed in claim 28, wherein the fabricating of the easy mode menu isresponsive to statistics of frequently used menu items.
 37. The portabledevice as claimed in claim 28, wherein menu items of the easy mode menuare displayed in icon form.
 38. The portable device as claimed in claim28, wherein the menu list represents a hierarchical architecture of menuitems.
 39. The portable device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the basicmenu list comprises at least one sub-level which each includes at leastone menu item; said method further comprising: fabricating the easy modemenu responsive to selection of the menu items of preference from the atleast one sub-level.